PRISONS' BOARD.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1512, 7 August 1912, Page 6

PRISONS' BOARD.

\ OPERATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. Many interesting observations on tho treatment of criminals oro contained ill the report by Sir Robert Stout, chairman of tho Prisons Board, covering the operations of the board, since its constitution on February 15 to December 31. Sixty )' habitual criminals and 105 subject to ro- :. formative treatment havo been heard by t tho board, and it has recommended the release- on probation of 27 of the former and 37 of tlio latter class.. Three reforma- ] live-treatment prisoners havo been • rei commended for unconditional release. The j report explains that pare is exercised to ecenre to releasod prisoners opportunities to fight the battle of life under favour-. j nblo conditions, and remarks that it seems hopeless to expect/ that "moral idiots" as they havo been formed in England can - over be. turned into useful citizens, The , board recommends that if there is to be - any great success in reformative treat- . ment tho warders in tho gaols must be . systematically trained, and there must be F efficient and properly-arranged ! prison ! buildings. Warders cannot bo expected ■ to know intuitively the requirements of a scientific reformative treatment, and the . board proposes that warders should bo . thoroughly trained by men who have made j criminology and •penology a study, and who have a knowledge of the psychology of criminals, as has been done in many ■ Continental countries. The boord also 1 urges increased.efforts to classify prisoners, and warmly commends the work that 1 is being done in tree-planting camps.